A nearly century-old trade rule that allowed Americans to import small packages without paying duties has been eliminated by President Donald Trump 's administration, which could disproportionately affect low-income households.

Why It Matters

The "de minimis" exemption, which applied to packages worth under $800 coming into the U.S., had long allowed goods to bypass customs duties and complex paperwork. On August 29, the Trump administration officially ended the rule, which covered 1.36 billion shipments valued at $64.6 billion in fiscal year 2024 .

While the end of de minimis came for China—the largest inbound source of such shipments—and Hong Kong earlier this year, the August 29 change impacts every U.S. trading partner. As a result, more than 30 countries' postal operators restr

See Full Page